Mobile phones and computers with wi-fi connections pose a risk to health and should be banned from schools, a committee of the influential Council of Europe has asserted. Continue reading »
May 152011
Dec 292010
It seems that plastic makers are saying they are going to distribute 150,000 free plastic bags next year to counter the Penang state government’s ‘no free plastic bags’ policy.
The news was published all over the Chinese-language media on Sunday. See a Guang Ming report here.
Let’s take a poll to see what kind of support the state has for its policy.
Do you support the Penang state government's no free plastic bags policy?
- Yes (88%, 370 Votes)
- No (10%, 43 Votes)
- Not sure/Don't know (2%, 7 Votes)
Total Voters: 420
The Penang state government has asked NGOs to back its policy. Here is a response from an anti-plastic bags activist:
I am not sure whether the state government has a strategy to counter the plastic manufacturers who had been attacking the Penang State government since it first started the no plastic bags campaign. Continue reading »
Apr 132010
The Sabah state government has decided to ban swiftlet farming in all urban areas in the state.
The ban was imposed as it was felt that the breeding activities in town areas were a health and environmental hazard and a public nuisance.
Where does this leave the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP)? George Town has been rapidly going to the birds. The ball is now in the MPPP’s court.
This is the Bernama report:
Sabah To Prepare Guidelines On Proper Swiftlet Farming
KOTA KINABALU, April 9 (Bernama) — The Sabah Local Government and Housing Ministry will prepare guidelines for proper swiftlet farming in all of the 24 districts in the state.
Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said today this was because the state cabinet had decided to ban swiftlet farming in the city and town areas.
Apr 282009
Tanjung Bunga Residents Association chairman George Aeria hands over the residents’ memo to the Penang state exco member for the environment, Phee Boon Poh – Photo by TBRA
At 3.15pm today, sirens blared and then two thunderous blasts followed by a smaller one unnerved residents of the Coastal Towers apartment blocks in Tanjong Bunga. At the nearby Straits Regency apartments, windows vibrated – even above the 10th floor
It is not surprising that residents groups from Tanjung Bunga, Penang, have joined forces to call for a ban on current and future projects on steep hill-slopes. Yesterday morning, representatives from these groups handed over a memorandum, signed by 1,558 residents, urging the Penang state government to do something.
They are not interested in stop-work orders; they want a permanent ban.
Apr 012009
Indoor ceramah, outdoor crowd: Anwar speaks from the covered corridor of a shoplot while the crowd listens from the street outside - Photos by Anil Netto
Anwar speaking from inside a private residence to a crowd of 5,000 seated on a field opposite
Pakatan politicians are using creative means to overcome various restrictions.
Take for instance the police restriction on ceramah in “public places” in Kedah, which effectively bans open-air public rallies.
The restrictions confine the ceramah to indoor locations. So the Pakatan politicians are now stretching the definition of “indoors”. While the politicians addressing the crowd are now indoors – in shophouses or inside private premises, the crowds spill out to the streets or fields outside the indoor locations.